No Limiting Beliefs

Now that we are entering into the season of Spring when buds are starting to show flowers and getting ready to bloom. We need to start thinking about the things WE want to develop and grow.

Sometimes we can become so despondent we can start to question whether we can do what we want to do. These thoughts can hold us back and stop us from making progress.

Having gone through nearly half of the year it’s time to evaluate whether we are still on track with the goals we set at the beginning of the year. Is there anything that we have been saying to our ourselves that stopped us from reaching our intended goals?  You may be saying to yourself “I never seem to go on holiday”, “I am not good at saving”. “It’s not worth applying for that job”; “I never get an interview”. These thoughts have a way of limiting our progress and stopping us in our tracks and from achieving our goals.

Change this by getting a piece of paper right now and writing down all the reasons why you have not reached your goals. Once you have done this ask yourself where did these inner beliefs come from? Once you have done this, examine each one and ask yourself::

• Does this make sense?  
• Where did I get this idea and from whom?  
• How does believing in this idea affect me?
• Does it help me succeed or does it hinder me, and how?

Next, consider your deep, inner beliefs about the type of goal you are pursuing.  Write down every idea you have about it.  Getting things in front of you on paper is important.  Think about what it has been keeping you from, the pain it caused. If your belief is deep and long standing it may be difficult to destroy even once you see it is false; so becoming aware of the pain it causes can provide you with ammunition to finally challenge this belief.

Here are some tips to kick start you in a new and positive direction:

1. Seek positive feedback. Try to stretch yourself.  Look for safe opportunities to try new things out.  Try an assertiveness course.  Take active steps to boost your self-confidence.  Don’t undersell yourself
2. Learn from your failures as well as successes.  Understand rejection is a regular occurrence.  Don’t take it personally.  Major negative incidents are often catalysts for positive change in the medium/long term
3. Start by increasing your self-awareness.  This takes some time and you may need to find a helping hand.  Try lots of different experiences and eliminate the ones you dislike.  Stay open-minded and flexible, but over time try to focus your thoughts

Thought for the Month

Your thoughts guide you to your destiny. If you always think the same you will always get to the same place. Think in a new way and you will be a new person. Give happiness to all and you will live in peace. Create peace in your mind and you will create a world of peace around you.